2024-03-23 10:00:55
Sugar is an essential part of our diet, but too high or too low levels of sugar can have a negative impact on our health. Recent studies suggest that glucose fluctuations in people with type 1 diabetes may also affect their cognitive function, which might impact the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding how sugar affects cognition and thinking is therefore crucial for overall health.
Type 1 diabetes and its effects on the brain
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects the pancreas and insulin production. Unlike type 2 diabetes, there is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes, which negatively affects the pancreas and prevents sufficient production of insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Previous studies have shown that people with type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop several health problems, including cardiovascular problems, nerve damage, eye problems, and problems with cognition.
Researchers at McLean Hospital, part of Mass General Brigham, recently conducted a study to better understand how type 1 diabetes affects the brain. They found that natural fluctuations in glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes can impact their cognitive function. This finding is important because it might have implications for the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The impact of glucose on brain processing speed
In the study, researchers recruited 200 people with type 1 diabetes who used digital glucose sensors and smartphone-based cognitive tests to collect data on glucose levels and cognition three times a day. day for 15 days. Analysis of the data revealed that the cognitive function of processing speed, that is, how quickly the brain receives, processes and responds to information received, was impaired when a person’s glucose levels were significantly higher or lower than usual. However, this was not the case for another cognitive function called sustained attention, which is the ability to focus on a specific task for a long period of time.
This discovery surprised the researchers, but it is not entirely surprising. It might reflect the fact that glycemic variability has a different impact on sustained attention and processing speed at different time scales. For example, previous studies suggest that sustained attention varies depending on the longer-term effects of glucose, while processing speed is sensitive to current glycemic status.
Optimal cognitive performance with higher glucose levels
The researchers also found that a study participant’s peak cognitive performance coincided with glucose levels slightly higher than their usual range. However, their performance declined if their glucose levels continued to rise. This finding is interesting because it indicates that, at least in the short term, having moderately high glucose levels is associated with faster thinking and response times in people with type 1 diabetes. This contrasts with the common belief that high glucose levels are harmful to long-term brain function.
The researchers stress that these findings should not worry people with type 1 diabetes who are looking to lower their blood glucose levels to a healthier range. The effects on thinking are likely to be temporary while the body adjusts to lower glucose levels. Additionally, the researchers point out that each person responds differently to glucose fluctuations, highlighting the importance of an individualized approach to assessing the impact of sugar on cognition.
The importance of blood sugar control for brain health
This study highlights the importance of glycemic control for daily brain health. It shows how glucose fluctuations in people with type 1 diabetes can affect cognition and thinking. It is therefore essential for people with type 1 diabetes to maintain adequate glycemic control to preserve long-term brain health.
Additional studies will be needed to confirm these results and better understand the underlying mechanisms. It would also be interesting to explore how the use of continuous glucose sensor technology can be used to improve our understanding of glycemic control and its impact on cognition.
It is clear that blood sugar levels can have a significant impact on cognition and thinking. People with type 1 diabetes should be aware of these effects and work with their medical team to maintain adequate blood sugar control. Furthermore, it is essential to continue to deepen our knowledge of the relationship between sugar and brain health in order to develop new strategies for the prevention and treatment of cognitive disorders linked to type 1 diabetes.
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François Lehn has been a science/health journalist for 15 years. Specializing in new health approaches and complementary care, he notably had the opportunity to collaborate for two years with Professor David Servan-Schreiber. Passionate regarding integrative medicine and the complementarity of different preventive and therapeutic health approaches, he tirelessly seeks the best information, health practitioners, doctors or researchers in order to provide the most reliable and useful knowledge for everyone’s health.
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